Culture Bites
Join hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews as they guide you through the arts and culture scene in the UAE, the Middle East and around the world. Culture Bites — a two-time award winner recognised in New York and London — brings you fresh perspectives every Thursday from The National News in Abu Dhabi.
Episodes
A stage for spectacle and subtlety: Inside Dar Al Funoon
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss Dar Al Funoon, the new performing arts centre announced for Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District.
The hosts discuss the opportunities the centre will bring to the UAE’s cultural scene, from live music and theatre to intimate performances. They also reflect on the legacy of renowned architect Frank Gehry, who designed the new
Episode 120: From bagpipes to dabke: The cultural side of the World Cup
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss the cultural moments shaping the 2026 World Cup, from the opening ceremonies to viral fan experiences.
The hosts talk about the reactions to this year’s three opening ceremonies in Mexico, Canada and the US. While performances from artists including Shakira and Elyanna brought global star power, Enas and Farah consider whether
Episode 119: Could AI music help to solve a gap in culture?
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews look at Beaufort Castle, the Crusader-era fortress in southern Lebanon that has been fought over for nearly 900 years and has once again found itself at the centre of military developments in the region.
They discuss the broader threat to Lebanon's cultural heritage, with archaeologists and NGOs warning of potentially catastrophic los
Episode 118: Reflecting on Art Dubai ahead of 20th event
In this special live edition of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews look back at the past 20 years that shaped one of the UAE’s most significant fairs: Art Dubai.
In this episode, Art Dubai director Dunja Gottweis and Emirati artist and designer Azza Al Qubaisi join the hosts for a conversation about the evolution of the event, as well as the country’s flourishing art scene over the
Episode 117: Venice Biennale - Is art becoming inseparable from politics?
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss the Venice Biennale, exploring highlights from this year’s edition and the controversies surrounding the event.
The 61st exhibition, titled In Minor Keys, brings together pavilions from around the world. The hosts put the spotlight on the UAE’s Washwasha exhibition, which explores sound, memory and identity, as well as regiona
Episode 116: From politics to pop - What stood out at Coachella this year?
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews unpack the biggest viral moments from this year’s Coachella festival.
Among the most talked-about performances was the set by The Strokes, which featured a montage referencing world leaders removed from power by US interventions. The political imagery sparked debate about the role of activism on the festival stage. The hosts also reac
Episode 115: We can all do our bit to help independent artists and small businesses in the UAE
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about the initiatives in the UAE working to support independent artists and small businesses.
While the conflict in the region has made it challenging for creators, start-up entrepreneurs and local brands to keep operating as normal, a number of community-led efforts are offering support.
For example, Alserkal Avenue in Dubai is
Episode 114: What are microdramas and why are they generating billions?
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about the creative ways the entertainment industry is adapting to disruptions in the events calendar.
Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena is hosting a shopping clearance sale this week to keep the venue running. After some of its scheduled concerts were postponed due to the regional war, staff quickly pivoted from live events to retail
Episode 113: Can the comedy of Saturday Night Live be universal?
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews share their thoughts on the newly launched UK version of Saturday Night Live.
The first episode of the British adaptation of the sketch comedy show received better reviews than expected after its broadcast last weekend. Some of the most popular segments shared online feature veteran SNL cast member Tina Fey hosting the monologue and an impe
Episode 112: Standout Oscar moments, wins and snubs
This week on Culture Bites, host Farah Andrews is joined by The National's culture reporter Faisal Al Zaabi to discuss their reactions to this year’s Oscars.
One Battle After Another took home the most awards at the 98th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. Michael B Jordan won Best Actor for his role in Sinners while Jessie Buckley won Best Actress fo
Episode 111: What we learnt from the America’s Next Top Model documentary
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and guest host Faisal Al Zaabi, The National's culture reporter, reflect on a new Netflix documentary revisiting the hit 2000s reality show America’s Next Top Model.
The docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, features interviews with former contestants, judges and host Tyra Banks. It has reignited debate about the fashion industry's stan
Episode 110: What makes Ramadan TV culture so special in the Arab world?
In this episode of Culture Bites, The National’s music and culture journalist Saeed Saeed is back, this time joining Enas Refaei to discuss Ramadan TV.
Every year during the holy month, households across the Arab world tune in to watch the most popular comedies, dramas and talk shows of the season. Over time, networks – and now streaming platforms – have invested bigger budgets into Ramadan specia
Episode 109: Who was the target audience for Bad Bunny’s half-time show?
This week on Culture Bites, Farah Andrews is joined by guest host Saeed Saeed, The National’s music and culture journalist.
After much acclaim and debate over Bad Bunny’s half-time Super Bowl show, the hosts reflect on its massive worldwide appeal. They discuss the powerful cultural messages layered through the Puerto Rican artist’s viral performance, described as a celebration of Latin American c
Episode 108: So you want to be a serious art collector? Abu Dhabi is calling
In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about a new initiative in Abu Dhabi to attract art collectors.
The scheme announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi will waive customs duties for artworks brought in for at least three years. Designed to be more than a financial incentive, the programme prioritises cultural investment in the emirate, bui
Episode 107: Why the food system is broken and why seasons matter | Asma Khan
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews sit down with chef and author Asma Khan during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai.
Born and raised in India, Asma later moved to the UK where she eventually opened her highly acclaimed restaurant, Darjeeling Express. She became the first British chef to be featured on the Netflix documentary series, Chef’s Table. She
Episode 106: Celebrating Emirati culture at Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore Abu Dhabi’s heritage through Al Hosn Festival, which runs until February 1.
They are joined by Farah Al Bakoush, acting director of Intangible Cultural Heritage at Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism, to discuss the highlights of this year’s event.
She provides a sneak peek of the interactive activations not to be mi
Episode 105: Sitting down with viral artist Werner Bronkhorst
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews host contemporary artist Werner Bronkhorst ahead of his first exhibition in Dubai.
The 24-year-old South Africa-born Australian painter talks about the global premiere of his new collection, Crack, which will be on display at Concrete in Alserkal Avenue from January 16 to 18. Even at his young age, Bronkorst’s work has become massively popu
Episode 104: The band reviving Kuwaiti pearl-diving music through jazz
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei is joined by UAE-based musician Ghazi Al Mulaifi to talk about the traditions of Kuwaiti pearl-diving music that inspired his band, Boom.Diwan.
Ghazi tells Enas about his own family history of pearl diving and the intrigue it sparked in him. The rich cultural practice was also an arduous one, marked by long perilous journeys and hardship. Music was an
Episode 103: The year in culture - top reads, movies and moments of 2025
In this season finale of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews reflect on the culture-defining moments that had the biggest impact on them in 2025.
The hosts share their favourite movies, TV series and books from the past year, with a look back at both fiction and non-fiction titles. They also highlight their most memorable art institution visits. Enas describes what it was like stepping in
Episode 102: Preserving Arab heritage - From Zayed National Museum to Unesco's list
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore how cultural heritage is preserved, celebrated and carried forward, from one of the UAE’s newly opened museums to the living traditions recognised by Unesco.
The episode opens at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, where Farah records from inside the new landmark on Saadiyat Island.
In that segment, Moaza Matar, dire
Episode 101: Why are we so obsessed with (our own) Spotify Wrapped?
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews reveal their Spotify Wrapped summaries, each with their own listening age plot twist.
The end-of-year stats delivered by Spotify and other similar audio streaming platforms have become popular among users over the years. Enas and Farah dig through their listening habits to understand why people love to learn about their own personalit
Episode 100: A day out at the newly-opened Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
This week, Culture Bites celebrates its 100th episode from the newly-opened Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
Hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews tour the sprawling space in Saadiyat Cultural District and explore the 13.8-billion-year story of the universe. They speak to the museum’s director Peter Kjaergaard about the emotional connection to the natural world that he wants visitors to experience.
Episode 99: How stories of migration come to life at Abu Dhabi Art
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews visit the Abu Dhabi Art fair and speak to some of the artists whose work caught their eye.
The Beyond Emerging Artists programme features up-and-coming UAE-based talents, and this year it is curated by renowned Syrian artist Issam Kourbaj. He speaks to Enas about working with the participants to bring their installations to life, and he giv
Episode 98: What to look forward to at this year's Abu Dhabi Art
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews preview Abu Dhabi Art before its opening on November 19.
Dyala Nusseibeh, director of Abu Dhabi Art, speaks about what visitors can expect to see this year, as a record number of galleries from around the world take part. The fair’s growth over time reflects Abu Dhabi’s efforts to become a centre for culture enthusiasts, especially as
Episode 97: Dhai Dubai festival artists are using light as a medium
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews speak to executive creative director at Expo City Dubai, Amna Abulhoul, about curating the upcoming Dhai Dubai festival.
Celebrating heritage through light, seven Emirati artists are showcasing their installations at the second edition of the event, taking place at Expo City Dubai's Al Wasl Plaza from November 12 to 18. Amna tal
Episode 96: Scratch and sniff art comes to Abu Dhabi
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews are joined by The National’s in-house pop culture expert Faisal Al Zaabi to talk about his experience of the Art in Scents tour at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
The museum has collaborated with Swiss fragrance maker Givaudan to interpret the aromas of nine artworks in its permanent collection. Visitors receive a book, which they can scratch the p
Episode 95: Sell it or melt it down - What will thieves do with the stolen Louvre jewellery?
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore the world of art heists in the aftermath of the break-in at the Louvre in Paris.
It took only seven minutes for thieves to break into the museum’s Apollo Gallery and steal several pieces of precious jewellery, all of which have significant historical value. This is not the first time the Louvre has been the target of thieves.
Episode 94: The mighty mushroom - UAE’s desert-dwelling marvel
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews bring attention to an often neglected but worthy force of nature − the mushroom.
Their guest in this episode, Georgina Pereira, is the species survival manager at Terra, Expo City Dubai where she works as a mushroom scientist. On the occasion of World Mushroom Day, she talks to Enas and Farah about the infinite ways that fungi shape our wor
Episode 93: From Arrakis to Abu Dhabi - Tracking the Dune cast in the UAE
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews give the scoop on the production of Dune: Part Three in Abu Dhabi.
Filming for the third instalment of the sci-fi blockbuster is expected to start this month in the emirate’s Liwa desert. Leading cast members, including Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, are expected to be arriving in the UAE soon. Jason Momoa was already spotted in Dubai
Episode 92: Could the revived Hejaz railway be a healing track for the region?
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews tell the story of the famous Hejaz railway, as Turkey, Syria and Jordan prepare to bring a section of it back to life.
Back in the 1900s, Sultan Abdulhamid II of the Ottoman Empire envisioned a rail line that stretched from Istanbul all the way to Makkah, making pilgrimage easier. While it was never completed entirely, the railway did
Episode 91: Why Drake sampling Fairuz is more complicated than you might think
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews react to Drake’s new track, which samples a song from the Lebanese icon Fairuz.
During a live stream to promote his upcoming album, Iceman, the Canadian hip-hop artist played a song that featured vocals from Fariuz’s 1979 hit Wahdon.
It sparked concern among Arab audiences over whether the Lebanese singer would be credited and c
Episode 90: The powerful voice of Hind Rajab
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews take a closer look at the reactions to The Voice of Hind Rajab at the Venice Film Festival.
The film uses real audio from the harrowing distress call of a five-year-old girl trapped in a car in Gaza as she came under Israeli fire. It won a Silver Lion and received a record-breaking standing ovation, but some critics called it ou
Episode 89: Storybook ending for Mosul’s famous leaning minaret
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews follow the story of Mosul’s historical landmarks from construction to destruction and finally restoration.
This week, The National’s team visited the 2,500-year-old Iraqi city to observe the completion of a seven-year UAE-led project to rebuild Al Nuri Mosque with its famous leaning minaret, as well as the churches of Our Lady o
Episode 88: A journey through the emirates, name by name
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews trace back the origins of the seven emirates, and how they got their names.
Drawing from both official records and local narratives, they look at the connection between human activity and geography that shaped each emirate. Abu Dhabi for example derives its meaning from accounts of early settlers following a gazelle to fresh wat
Episode 87: What’s driving new generation of Arab musicians to greatness?
This week on Culture Bites, host Farah Andrews chats with her colleagues at The National about the UAE’s cultural representation in Japan, and the regional music scene.
Gaming and Culture Reporter Faisal Al Zaabi joins Farah to talk about exploring the UAE pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The exhibit invites visitors to appreciate the country’s past, present and future and is designed to evoke their s
Episode 86: From public spaces to galleries, where to find street art in the UAE
In this episode of Culture Bites, host Farah Andrews explores the intersection of cities and street art through No Trespassing, an exhibition at the Ishara Art Foundation in Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue, running until August 30.
Curated by Priyanka Mehra, the show presents six site-specific interventions that brought street materials into the gallery space.
Priyanka joins Farah in the studio to share h
Episode 85: Culture Bites summer list - easy reads and flight-friendly flicks
On Culture Bites this week, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews offer some inspiration for a richer summer with their recommendations of what to read, watch and see during the holidays.
For long flights, the hosts suggest skipping cinematic spectacles and opting instead for breezy, entertaining films that are more suitable for smaller screens. If video is not an option, Enas and Farah also share some id
Episode 84: Spiralling therapist or kitchen chaos? What to watch first from Emmy nominations
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss their favourites from this year’s Emmy nominations.
From dramas to comedies, some of the most highly rated TV series from 2025 have made the list, including Adolescence, The Last of Us and the latest season of The White Lotus. Some of the shows that Enas and Farah have recommended before on the podcast made the cut, such as Th
Episode 83: Is it a bird? Superman and 'winged' Zayed National Museum
In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews give a preview of the Zayed National Museum which is set to open in December.
The building has already become a landmark of Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District. Its five steel structures are shaped like feathers, inspired by the country’s tradition of falconry, and the museum itself will tell the story of the UAE over
Episode 82: Tips for a kid-friendly, cultural summer in Abu Dhabi
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews offer some inspiration for an art-infused summer with respite from the heat.
Enas discusses a family day out at Saadiyat Cultural District, including a stop at teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. The Japanese multisensory digital art concept was founded in 2001 and has expanded across the globe, most recently to the UAE where it opened
Episode 81: Is life more fun with our phones locked away? And a look at Glastonbury surprises
On Culture Bites this week, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about the perks of going phone-free during comedy shows.
Enas tells Farah about her experience of watching Dave Chappelle’s stand-up act in Abu Dhabi where the provocative comedian took to the stage for a second year in a row. Attendees had to secure their smart devices in locked pouches to ensure no one filmed the performance. T
Episode 80: How big is Abu Dhabi's role in Brad Pitt's F1 film?
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews join the hype around F1 The Movie, the thrilling motorsport film that was partly filmed in Abu Dhabi.
The National’s arts and culture editor William Mullally returns to the podcast to give his take on the film on its UAE cinema release day. He talks about the fine details that went into the production to make the race scenes as
Episode 79: Jaws turns 50 - Which came first, the phobia or the film?
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews are joined by The National’s arts and culture editor William Mullally to talk about Jaws to mark the film’s 50th anniversary.
The iconic shark attack film had such a massive impact in Hollywood when it was released in 1975, carving out an entire thriller genre for decades to come. In fact, people began describing hit summer film
Episode 78: Who are the pilgrims riding from Spain to Makkah on horseback, reviving an Andalusian tradition?
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews trace the journey of pilgrims who rode all the way from Spain to Makkah on horseback.
The riders crossed 6,500km over seven months to arrive at the holy site in time for Hajj. Inspired by a promise that one of them made to himself 36 years earlier, the journey recreates the Andalusian tradition performed by Muslims 500 years ago
Episode 77: The Urban Treasures that define Abu Dhabi
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews celebrate Abu Dhabi’s urban culture through some of its beloved local businesses.
A number of long-time establishments in the emirate have been honoured as Urban Treasures by Abu Dhabi Culture for their contribution to the commercial and cultural fabric of the capital over the past few decades. As the city grows and evolves, the
Episode 76: From Gaza to Cannes: Arab films in the spotlight
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss some of the most promising Arab entries at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which is running until May 24.
They tease some of the titles they’re most eager to watch, including Once Upon a Time in Gaza, a revenge thriller directed by Gaza-born twins Tarzan and Arab Nasser. Another film that’s making waves at the event this year is S
Episode 75: What is a foreign film production anyway?
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss Palestinian poet and writer Mosab Abu Toha, who won a Pulitzer Prize this week. He was recognised for his essays on life in war-torn Gaza, which reflect the hardships faced by Palestinians under Israeli siege.
The hosts also review the most notable looks from this week’s Met Gala, where celebrities dressed to the theme, Superfine: T
Episode 74: How Abu Dhabi is attracting Hollywood
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews share some of their picks from The National’s list of the 50 most important Arabic novels of the 21st century.
The compilation reflects the diversity of the region’s modern literary scene and the influential authors whose works have impacted audiences near and far. Enas talks about the impression Alaa Al Aswany's The Yacoubian Buildin
Episode 73: How political should a music festival be?
In this episode of Culture Bites, our hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore the unlikely connection between Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta and Sharjah, which he chronicled in his writing.
Sharjah hosted a rich literary programme during its participation as guest of honour at the 30th Rabat International Book Fair, highlighting the historical connections between Morocco and the UAE. The famou
Episode 72: Can art really cut through the turmoil?
In a special episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews host the show from Art Dubai, the city's annual art fair that is taking place this week.
They share some of their recommendations for what not to miss at the event this year – including regional, international and digital art.
The hosts speak to Mirjam Varadinis, the curator of the Bawwaba section at Art Dubai, about her vision f
Episode 71: Taking the art out of artificial: Has AI gone too far?
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss the ethical consideration of using artificial intelligence to create art.
Their conversation is inspired by the recent viral trend of promoting AI generators like ChatGPT to convert personal photos into Studio Ghibli-style images. The founder of the famous Japanese animation house, Hayao Miyazaki, is staunchly critical of integratin
Episode 70: Why Disney’s remake of Snow White became a poisoned apple
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews dig into the controversies surrounding Disney's live-action Snow White, an adaptation of the 1937 animated classic.
The film stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. As far back as 2021, when the casting was announced, critics accused Disney of being overly politically correct for hiring a Latina actress to play Sn
Episode 69: Why it is time to discuss the uncomfortable truth about online culture
On this week’s episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss the Palestinian documentaries that are defying the odds amid a climate of political tension.
Oscar-winning film No Other Land has secured a Dubai-based distributor in the Mena region after failing to find a major distributor in the US. The documentary shows the struggles faced by its Palestinian co-creator as he tried t
Episode 68: What role will Arab talent play in renovating British Museum galleries?
This week, Culture Bites hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh’s selection to renovate the British Museum’s Western Range galleries, and how this is a major recognition of and a moment of pride for Arab architects. Farah also highlights how picking Ghotmeh might signal a shift in how the British Museum is positioning itself, as it has been under pressure to re
Episode 67: Why can't we watch Palestine's first Oscar-winning film?
On Culture Bites this week, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews celebrate Palestine’s first win at the Oscars.
Co-directed by Palestinian journalist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, No Other Land won Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Academy Awards. It highlights the daily struggles of Palestinians enduring settler violence in the West Bank area of Masafer Yatta.
Enas and Farah descri
Episode 66: Why it’s time for Ramy Youssef’s satire based on the Muslim-American experience in post-9/11 America
With Ramadan on its way, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews take inspiration from the cultural happenings in the UAE and the region to reflect on the most important traditions of the holy month.
They give a preview of Alserkal Avenue’s coming Interrupting Patterns programme, which features poetry, theatre and film as platforms for community building and contemplation. They also discuss the role of Rama
Episode 65: Can video games change how we understand history?
In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss a new video game about the 1948 Palestinian Nakba, talking about how gaming can be used to tell historical stories. The upcoming Dreams on a Pillow follows a Palestinian mother called Omm who, in the chaos of being forcibly removed from her home, mistakenly grabs a pillow instead of her child.
Meanwhile, the Bafta TV aw
Episode 64: Can MrBeast’s Giza Pyramids video promote regional tourism?
In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews offer their take on the widely popular MrBeast video showing rarely seen treasures of the Egyptian pyramids in Giza.
In the video, the famous YouTuber and his vlogger friends are joined by Egyptologists as they explore hidden chambers and archaeological sites that are otherwise closed to the public. The hosts discuss th
Episode 63: How Mo depicts Palestinians as more than the suffering seen on the news
In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews unpack the comedy and tearful moments of the second season of the Netflix series, Mo.
The National's Arts and Culture Editor, William Mullally, shares insights from his conversation with Mo Amer, the creator and lead actor of the show. He talks to the hosts about some of the most powerful moments in the hit series about t
Episode 62: The voice of unity - Remembering Umm Kulthum 50 years after her death
In this episode of Culture Bites, co-hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal look forward to some of the most highly anticipated talks, performances and experiences at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature taking place this week.
From Laaleen Sukhera’s celebration of 250 years of Jane Austen and The Bethlehem Banquet, hosted by chef and author Fadi Kattan, to a family-friendly event
Episode 61: Quoz Arts Fest and Dave Chappelle’s plea for Palestine
In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal look ahead to the 12th Quoz Arts Fest, which starts this weekend.
The cultural festival celebrates a variety of art, music, food and more, all coming together at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai’s Al Quoz district. Running alongside the event will be Reel Palestine, a Palestinian film festival. Movies being shown include Pa
Episode 60: Reality check - from The Real World to Dubai Bling
The Culture Bites team is back, kicking off with a preview of anticipated arts and culture events lined up for 2025.
Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal share some of the most exciting concerts, art fairs and book releases that they’re adding to their calendars this year. From Sting on stage and Sharjah Biennial 16 to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's new book, this cultural season sets off with a
That’s a wrap: end of year special
As 2024 draws to a close the Culture Bites team dedicates their final episode of the year to celebrating the moments that left a significant imprint on them.
Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal look back at some of their favourite cultural experiences within the UAE and around the world. From NYU Abu Dhabi’s Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial exhibition to the Andy Warhol exhibition in D
Episode 58: How will Syria’s cultural landscape transform?
This week’s episode of Culture Bites centres on Syria’s art scene at this delicate moment in the country’s history following the fall of president Bashar Al Assad.
Hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal discuss Syria’s rich cultural heritage that dates back centuries. They discuss the impact of the civil war on its creative talents and how it might shape the art they create in the afterma
Episode 57: Is a Roman coin about to break auction records?
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal take a moment to appreciate the Emirati and Arab traditions being considered for Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists this year.
Established in 2008, the lists aim to preserve and promote cultural heritage, including practices that may be in urgent need of safeguarding. Several rituals from the region have been added to t
Episode 56: How the UAE is making art more and more accessible
In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews shine a light on the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, which has turned public spaces in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain into al fresco galleries.
The event features more than 70 UAE and international artists whose installations in culturally significant sites represent the past and present. This includes the corniche and public parks in Abu Dhabi,
Episode 55: Historic pieces and humble beginnings at Abu Dhabi Art
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal explore the flourishing art scene across the UAE, starting with Abu Dhabi Art which kicked off earlier this week. This year marks the biggest iteration of the event to date, featuring more than 100 galleries.
The hosts share their favourite pieces from the fair and highlight some of the most compelling exhibits to ex
Episode 54: The rise of the underdog artist at music awards
This week on the show, Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal reflect on the recently announced 2025 Grammy nominations. Beyonce leads with 11, becoming the most-nominated artist of all time, bringing her career total to 99 nominations.
The hosts discuss the diversity of genres being recognised by the recording academy and the artists – both new and established – in the race for the most covete
Episode 53: Love is Blind Habibi reunites and leaves an impression on the world
In this week’s episode, Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal start the show on a celebratory note after Culture Bites won a bronze prize for best co-hosts at this year’s Signal Awards. The annual awards honour the world’s most impactful podcasts in several categories, with winners selected either by a jury or by public votes.
Only weeks after Love is Blind Habibi started streaming, the show’s
Episode 52: A lens on Arabia’s prehistoric world
This week on Culture Bites, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal step back to a prehistoric era of the UAE’s story. The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will recreate models of landscapes and wildlife as they once existed millions of years ago.
Visitors will be able to discover a natural world that’s unique to the country and the Arab region at large. This includes galleries that showcase the topography o
Episode 51: Can child stars escape the pressures of the entertainment world?
On Culture Bites this week, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews round up their favourite Halloween films to binge before October 31. From the classically frightening to the unsettling and gory, they share suggestions across several horror genres.
From Jordan Peele’s chilling alien mystery Nope to the grotesque body horror The Substance starring Demi Moore, there’s something for everyone. The hosts also
Episode 50: Palestinian-Jordanian chef Salam Dakkak gets to the heart of Levantine cuisine
In this episode of Culture Bites, chef Salam Dakkak joins Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews to talk about her award-winning Levantine cuisine and the "nafas", or soul, that she shares through her cooking. The Palestinian-Jordanian owner of Bait Maryam and Sufret Maryam, named in honour of her mother, revives the tastes and traditions of home in her kitchen, inviting guests from all over the world to d
Episode 49: Is Love Blind, Habibi?
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal start the show with exciting news: the podcast has been shortlisted for a Signal Award in the Best Co-host Team category. Fans of the show have until October 17 to cast their votes here. Please get voting!
Maan got the chance to visit NYU Abu Dhabi this week and explore new exhibition Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinqu
Episode 48: The Palestinian storytellers sharing their lives with the world
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews cover the collective struggle of Coldplay fans who tried to buy tickets for the band’s concerts in Abu Dhabi in January.
People queued online for hours hoping to be among the lucky ones to get their hands on a ticket but many found tens or hundreds of thousands already ahead of them. Demand was so high that the concert's organ
Episode 47: Celebrating our podcast's first anniversary
Culture Bites turns one this week! To celebrate the anniversary, hosts Farah Andrews, Enas Refaei and Maan Jalal look back on their favourite moments, and Farah gives the team a podcast present in the form of a big concert announcement in Abu Dhabi. Listen to catch the exciting news.
Also coming to the UAE is the much-debated Donald Trump biopic, The Apprentice, screening in cinemas from October 1
Episode 46: Are con artists cultural icons and are awards ceremonies still relevant?
This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Maan Jalal break down the appeal of Netflix’s new show, The Perfect Couple. The murder mystery follows the lives of the wealthy Winbury family on the day of their son’s wedding, when one of the guests is found dead on the beach.
The Perfect Couple has become Netflix's most popular show in the UAE since its release last week. The Culture Bites hosts
Episode 45: How language illustrates cultural connections and the great Oasis wait
What can the evolution of languages tell us about a place and time in history? In this week’s Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal draw inspiration from the multi-volume Arabic-Latin dictionary project led by Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and discuss common root words across languages.
They draw links between Arabic and Latin languages, li
Episode 44: What does fine art smell like?
In this week's episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal imagine what it would be like if art were appreciated not just visually, but also through scent. Inspired by a project at the National Museum in Krakow, The National speaks to curators at Louvre Abu Dhabi to decipher the smell of selected pieces in their collection.
Considering the era, materials used, the con
Episode 43: Has Blake Lively proved there is such thing as bad movie publicity?
In this week's episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal break down the press tour drama surrounding new film It Ends with Us. Beyond reported rifts on set between lead actress Blake Lively and co-star and director Justin Baldoni, critics are unimpressed with Lively’s movie marketing approach.
Farah points out the problematic disparity between the film’s
Episode 42: What do Banksy's animal artworks really mean?
Enas Refaei is back for this episode of Culture Bites, joining Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal to preview the popular 1990s and 2000s music artists coming to the UAE this season.
The Backstreet Boys are returning to Abu Dhabi this October, a little more than a year since their last performance in the capital. But they are not the only act bringing nostalgia to town this autumn. The hosts look ahead t
